TV Licensing spokeswoman Deborah King said: "We take TV licence evasion very seriously and, while we give people every opportunity to pay, we will not hesitate to prosecute if people continue to break the law."

In the first six months of this year there were 3,087 cases in Belfast, 778 in Newry and 773 in Derry.

Ms King added: "The vast majority of people in Northern Ireland pay their licence fee and, to be fair to those who pay, we have to be firm with those who attempt to get away without paying."

A colour licence costs £145.50.

Almost 209,000 licence-dodgers were caught across the UK between January and June this year.